Did you know: Chinese ducks store most of the world's supply of flu viruses; 100 million women are missing and presumed dead; there is a battery so tiny that 100 fit into a single human red blood cell; some bacteria thrive in boiling-hot water?Smart, witty, and always crystal clear, science reporter Sharon Bertsch McGrayne tells you all about the biggest, fastest, oldest, smallest, newest, coldest, flattest, hottest...and undeniably most amazing plants, animals, places, things, and ideas in the known universe. Now she gives you a great way to fill the gaps in your knowledge of recent developments in medicine and health, engineering and technology, earth science, zoology, chemistry, computer science, physics, astronomy, and mathematics. Here are hundreds of extraordinary facts guaranteed to deliver astonishing, up-to-the-minute information. Read Less